Zoonotic Mansonella ozzardi in Raccoons, Costa Rica, 2019-2022

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Veterinary Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Mansonella ozzardi is a filarioid parasite responsible for human mansonellosis in the Americas.
• The ecological dynamics and wildlife reservoirs of M. ozzardi remain incompletely understood in many endemic areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify potential wildlife reservoirs of Mansonella ozzardi in Costa Rica.
• To assess the public health implications of identified reservoirs in regions with sympatry between wildlife and humans.

Main Methods:

• Field-based wildlife surveys were conducted in Costa Rica.
• Parasitological examination of captured raccoons (Procyon lotor) was performed to detect M. ozzardi infection.

Main Results:

• Raccoons (Procyon lotor) were identified as a wildlife reservoir for M. ozzardi in Costa Rica.
• The presence of infected raccoons in areas with human populations indicates potential for parasite transmission.

Conclusions:

• Wildlife, specifically raccoons, play a role in the epidemiology of Mansonella ozzardi in the Americas.
• The sympatry of raccoons and humans in Costa Rica presents a considerable public health risk for mansonellosis, necessitating further investigation and control strategies.